Princess Mathilde Dame Grand Cross in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

The newspapers of Sud Presse report that last Ffriday Princess Mathilde was installed as a Dame Grand Cross in the order of the Holy Sepulchre. The ceremony happened with only a few people present. The order of the Holy Selpulchre is a prestigious Catholic order that wants to spread Catholicism in the world. the Vatican has to approve of all the new members the order is inviting. The order traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the first crusade.

The order has 22.000 members world wide. Between 360 and 370 of them are living in Belgium. Some royal members were/are: King Alphonso XIII of Spain, the Duke of Calabria, King Juan Carlos I, the Prince of Asturias, the late Count of Barcelona, the Belgian Kings Leopold II, Albert I, Baudouin and Albert II, Queen Paola and the Duke of Brabant.